Sunday, December 25, 2016

Christmas Message 2016 Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin

On this Christmas Day, I greet you, your families and loved ones with every grace and blessing!

It’s over 2000 years since God’s Son was
born in a stable in Bethlehem. He was the same as any other baby –
needing to be fed and changed, needing to be held and loved.

Like all babies – like the children of your own family – he melted the
hearts of those who looked upon him or held him in their arms. That’s
how God comes to us still – asking for our love.

We can direct him to the darkness of the stable because we have no space
for him in our busy lives, or we can make room in our hearts to receive
him with love.

Your presence here today, in God’s
house, celebrating the birth of the Christ child is a sign of your
willingness to welcome God into your hearts and homes. I want you to
know each one of you is always welcome in God’s house.

Your presence is a
gift; your presence helps us to recognise that God is indeed with us;
your presence gives us hope that the light will conquer the darkness
that at times threatens to overwhelm humanity!

This Christmas, conscious of the turmoil
in our world, conscious of the challenges of poverty, homeless and
materialism in society, conscious of our own need to be made whole, let
us welcome Christ once more and allow ourselves to be held in that
loving embrace of God.